Location

From Incheon International Airport (ICN)

We recommend 2 main ways from Incheon Int'l Airport to Institute for Basic Science (IBS): by Airport Limousine bus and Express Train (KTX)

The most convenient way is to use an airport limousine bus which we strongly recommend. When you exit a gate of the airport terminal, you will see the bus stop on the 1st floor. Cross the road and look for the sign for "Bus for other province" (9C-10C). Board the bus for Daejeon at bus stop 9D. The cost of the ticket is roughly KRW 23,000, Deluxe KRW 24,300. It will take about 180 ~ 200 minutes for buses to arrive at Daejeon. Once in Daejeon, get off at Doryong or Daejeon Government Complex (Jeongbu Chongsa) and take a taxi to IBS. The distance is roughly 1 km and will cost no more than KRW 3,000.

When you exit a gate of the airport terminal, you will see bus stops outside on the 1st floor. Cross the first road section and look for the sign stating "Bus for other province" (9C-10C). Buy a ticket at the ticket booth and go to the 9D bus stop.

The cost of tickets is KRW 23,100 during the day and KRW 25,400 for night, as of August 2017. Buses come every 20 ~ 40 minutes and the ride takes 180 ~ 200 minutes to arrive at Daejeon. The first bus is at 6 AM and the last bus is at 11:30 PM. The bus has three stops in Daejeon: Doryong, Daejeon Government Complex (Jeongbu Chongsa), and Daejeon Dongbu Terminal.

Get off at Doryong and take a taxi to IBS. The distance is 2.2 km, driving time is 5 minutes, and the fare is around KRW 2,900.

If you miss the first stop, get off at Daejeon Government Complex (Jeongbu Chongsa) and take a taxi to IBS. The distance is within a 1.7 km taxi ride.

To avoid any potential confusion with a taxi driver, we recommend you say “hello” in Korean when entering the taxi (Ann-young-ha-say-oh) and then show them this note in Korean stating you wish to visit IBS.

Bullet trainThe other direct option to is take a KTX (bullet train) going from Incheon Airport to Daejeon Station and then ride in a taxi for the last leg of the trip. Enter Incheon International Airport Station across the street from Terminal 1. The entrances for AREX (Airport Railroad Express) and KTX are side by side yet use different platforms. KTX tickets can be purchased both in person and online at http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfTicketSearch.do Online orders must be claimed in person with your passport as identification before you ride the train. If you order your ticket via the English website but do not claim the ticket in person, your reservation is seen as unfulfilled and your seat could be resold to another customer. For train times please see the website link. Standard seats cost KRW 36,100 and first class seats costs KRW 50,500. Travel time is approximately two hours depending on the number of stops in route. Tickets do occasionally sell out.

Taxi Once arriving at Daejeon Station, go out the front entrance (Exit 1) and get a taxi from the line of taxis waiting near the entrance. The distance is 8 km, driving time 18 minutes, and the fare is around KRW 8,000.

To avoid any potential confusion with a taxi driver, we recommend you say “hello” in Korean when entering the taxi (Ann-young-ha-say-oh) and then show them this note in Korean stating you wish to visit IBS.

Incheon Int'l Airport → Seoul Station

Airport limousine busYou can buy your limousine bus tickets for Seoul Station at the ticket booths outside on the 1st floor. After you purchase your bus ticket, proceed to bus stop 4A, 5B, 10B, or 11B. The bus number will be 6702 (Namsan) or 6001 (Myeongdong) and both buses have many stops in Seoul. A single adult ticket will cost between KRW 14,000 and KRW 16,000 depending on the bus number and the time of day. Namsan bus 6702 runs between 5:10 AM and 10:48 PM, Myeongdong bus 6001 runs from 5:45 AM and 10:40 PM. Buses come every 30 minutes and the ride takes 80 ~ 90 minutes.

SubwayIf you prefer to take the subway please take an AREX (Airport Railroad Express) train at Incheon International Airport Station across the street from Terminal 1. The entrances for AREX and KTX (bullet trains) are side by side yet use different platforms. All stop AREX trains are to the east (your left) and non-stop express AREX trains are to the west (your right). Non-stop trains take 43 minutes, cost KRW 14,800 but frequently is discounted to KRW 8,000, leave roughly every 30 minutes, have seats like traditional trains, and will take you directly to Seoul Station. All stop trains take 57 minutes, cost KRW 4,650 including a refundable KRW 500 for a single journey ticket, leave roughly every 7 minutes, have seats like traditional subways, and ride until the last stop (Seoul Station). First train leaves at 5:20 AM and last train leaves at 11:40 PM. Timetables and updated information are available at www.arex.or.kr

Seoul Station → Daejeon Station

Bullet trainIf you took the airport limousine bus, then make your way from the street up into Seoul Station. If you took the AREX, then follow the crowds up 1 small escalator, 1 long escalator, scan your transit card, if you have a single journey ticket then refund it in the separate refund machine, 2 more escalators, and now you are in the center of Seoul Station. Tickets for the KTX bullet trains can be purchased by tellers at ticketing counters, by machine, or online at http://www.letskorail.com/ebizbf/EbizBfTicketSearch.do Online orders must be claimed in person at a ticketing counter with your passport as identification before you ride the train. If you order your ticket via the English website but do not claim the ticket in person, your reservation is seen as unfulfilled and your seat could be resold to another customer. For train times please see the website link.

The ticketing counter closest to the AREX entrance is smaller and typically has a smaller line than the ticketing counter close to the main street entrance. Ticketing machines are located in between the two sets of counters and are closer to the street entrance than the AREX entrance.

KTX standard seats cost KRW 24,000 and first class seats costs KRW 35,000 and are sometimes discounted. Travel time is roughly one hour depending on the number of stops in route. Tickets do occasionally sell out but trains run every 10 to 20 minutes. Please see the website above for current timetables. Train types other than KTX exist but take two hours to travel to Daejeon and do not run as often.

Staffed ticketing counter closest to AREX entrance

Automated bilingual ticketing machines

Daejeon Station → Institute for Basic Science (IBS) HQ

Taxi
We strongly recommend that you take a taxi to get to IBS upon your arrival at Daejeon Station. Once arriving at Daejeon Station, go out the front entrance (Exit 1) and get a taxi from the line of taxis waiting near the entrance. The distance is 8 km, driving time is 18 minutes, and the fare is around KRW 8,000.

To avoid any potential confusion with a taxi driver, we recommend you say “hello” in Korean when entering the taxi (Ann-young-ha-say-oh) and then show them this note in Korean stating you wish to visit IBS.

Bus
Although time-consuming, it is possible to reach IBS by bus. Depending on traffic, the bus ride will take more than 1 hour and cost KRW 1,250 with T-money or Cashbee transit card or KRW 1,400 with cash. Once arriving at Daejeon Station, go out the front entrance (Exit 1) and walk until you reach the street. Turn right and walk another 60 meters until you reach a bus top. Ride bus 606 or 705 and exit the bus at Expo Science Park.